As you consider your future at university, you will become familiar with the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service1 (UCAS UK). As you choose your university degree programmes on the UCAS platform, you'll note the number of points each requires. Many students stumble over this feature, so this article explains what these points are and how to calculate them2.
What to Know About The UCAS Points System
- Each qualification has a point value assigned based on earned grades.
- A-Levels point value breakdown: A* (56 points), A (48), B (40), C (32), D (24), E (16)
- T-Levels point value breakdown: Distinction* (168 points), Distinction (144), Merit (120), Pass (96)
- Conversion to points helps UCAS standardise different post-16 qualifications results into a unified scoring method.
What Are UCAS Points?
Picture yourself as a successful restaurant owner at some international airport. Diners are flying in from all over the world, hungry for their first taste of British food. They throw their home countries' currencies at you to pay for their meal. Does that work well for you?
Of course it doesn't. You have no idea what their currency is worth, and it's extra work for you to exchange it all. Time and effort you can ill afford, being a busy restaurateur, and all.
UCAS has the same problem. It has grades flying in from BTEC, Scottish Highers, International Baccalaureates (IB), T- and A-Levels (and soon, V-Levels).
Different qualifications have their own marking systems to reflect the time and effort involved in attaining them.
This makes it hard for universities to set uniform entry requirements for each of their courses, given that students can take different qualifications before entering university. This is where the UCAS tariff system comes in.
How the UCAS Points System Works
UCAS points give a standardised numerical value to each grade of each qualification, which allows for grade comparison. This is useful for universities, especially as they can then set their entry requirements in UCAS points, which account for different post-sixteen education options.
UCAS points allow universities to set A-Levels into a value framework alongside BTECs, Scottish Highers, and the International Baccalaureate.
So how do UCAS points work? UCAS points can be calculated for level 3/SCQF level 6 qualifications. Level 2 qualifications don't count, so any GCSEs that you have will not be usable here.
UCAS has put together a handy mathematical model which takes into account the size of a qualification and its grading system. It gives an overall numerical value for each qualification.
How Many UCAS Points Are My Qualifications Worth?
To give you an idea of how many UCAS points your qualifications could be worth, this short list of popular qualifications converts marks into UCAS points4.
| 🏫A-Levels | 💻T-Levels | 🌐IB | 🎓Scottish Highers | 👷♂️BTEC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A*: 56 | Distinction*: 168 points | H7: 56 | A: 56 | D*D*: 112 |
| A: 48 | Distinction: 144 | H6: 48 | B: 48 | D*D: 104 |
| B: 40 | Merit: 120 | H5: 32 | C: 40 | DD: 96 |
| C: 32 | Pass: 96 | H4: 24 | D: 32 | DM: 80 |
| D: 24 | --- | H3: 12 | --- | MM: 64 |
| E: 16 | --- | H2: 0 | --- | MP: 48 |
| --- | --- | H1: 0 | --- | PP: 32 |
How to Calculate your UCAS Tariff Points
You have two ways to calculate your A-Level UCAS points:
manually, using the values above.
Use the tariff calculator on the UCAS page.
Calculating your UCAS points is a lot easier than it sounds. The UCAS tariff calculator can do all of the heavy lifting if you choose to go that route. Simply input the qualification that you are studying and the grade you expect to get.
Do this for each different subject. For example, if you are taking A-Levels in French, Geography, and Biology, you should do an entry for each. This combined score is what universities will use for their entry requirements.
However, not all qualifications carry UCAS points. Certificate courses are generally omitted, and some of the less popular courses are, too. That doesn't mean you studied them for nothing.
Your target university may still consider those grades relevant if they relate to your chosen degree plan. When in doubt, contact the uni's admissions office to ask whether you should include those marks on your application.
See what you should know about tutoring.
Calculating UCAS Points for A-Levels and Other Qualifications
The UCAS tariff calculator3 is a terrific tool that supports 14 different qualifications. You must enter the type of qualification you need to convert into tariff points, and you have the option of adding which subject you studied.
When you select your qualification from the drop-down menu, it includes the subject studied.
So, you don't need to enter anything in that optional field.
In all, the UCAS tariffs calculator has a bit of redundancy built into it. After all, an A* in Maths carries the same point value as an A* in English and Engineering. So, you might save yourself a bit of time by simply converting your predicted grades by hand, using the values from the chart above.
Beware that you'll use predicted grades when you apply to uni, not grades you already earned.
You should be very clear about what you can attain and what's just beyond your reach. Predicted grades are not guarantees6, they're estimates of possible attainment based on your past academic performance and other factors. Those factors may include classroom behaviour, your track record for handing in assignments, other students' performances in your cohort, and so on.
It's not uncommon for students' predicted grades to range higher than individual students' actual exam performance. In the end, exam grades are the ones that matter; they're the ones university admissions boards rely on to cement their offers.
Should your chosen university withdraw a conditional offer they made you based on predicted grades, no need to fret. You may ask for a review, and you might do a bit of extracurricular work over the summer to justify your claims.
How to Get More UCAS Points?
As you have seen from this blog, you can pick up UCAS points from a whole range of different post-sixteen qualifications. But did you know that there are also other ways to get more UCAS points?
People usually tie UCAS points to academic qualifications such as A-Levels, BTECs, Scottish Highers, and the Welsh Baccalaureate, to name a few. But you can also earn UCAS points from other education-related initiatives, too.
Earn Higher Marks
This sounds like a "Well, duh!" proposition with nothing backing it. How does one earn higher marks, exactly?
Earn Extra Marks
Most universities are clear that they use the top three marks in their admissions criteria. That leaves you room to take an extra A- or AS level. You always have the chance of scoring higher in a 'throwaway' subject than one you stress over.
AS-Level represents the first year of A-Level study and exams.
Sitting an AS-Level or two could earn the following UCAS points for each AS grade:
- A: 20 points
- B: 16 points
- C: 12 points
- D: 10 points
- E: 6 points
Likewise, you might take on an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). These are Level-3 standalone qualifications that help you develop essential skills such as project management, research, and independent learning.
A* = 28 points
A = 24 points
B = 20 points
C = 16 points
D = 12 points
E = 8 points
Volunteering
If taking on more academic work isn't your cup of tea, then how about volunteering? Through the education charity ASDAN8, you can take courses that have volunteering as part of their specification.
An ASDAN Certificate of Personal Effectiveness carries 16 UCAS points; an Award of Personal Effectiveness carries 8 points.
How Can Superprof Be of Service?
Here at Superprof, we know that applying for university can be stressful. From your choice of course and university, to doing the actual application, there are difficult decisions and extra work at every turn.
And this is all on top of trying to get the best grades possible in order to be accepted!
So if you find that your school work is dipping slightly due to these extra pressures, then don't worry. Superprof has the perfect tutor for you in order to get you back on track for achieving the grades that you need.
It doesn't matter if it's a whole subject or a particular exam paper that you will need to sit. Superprof has tutors in your local area covering a whole range of subjects and topics. Each tutor has their own biography listing their expertise and experience, which makes it easier for you to choose the right one for you.
What's more, tutors are rated by their students so you can see how others have fared with any given tutor. And if this wasn't enough, most tutors offer their first class for free so you can see if their teaching style suits you before you commit to more classes (although be sure to check this with each tutor!)
So don't struggle alone and risk your place at your perfect university. Take a look at the Superprof website to find your ideal tutor close to you.
Resources and UCAS Points References
- UCAS. “UCAS.” Ucas.com, 2025, www.ucas.com/advisers/help-and-training/guides-resources-and-training/information-new-ucas-tariff-advisers. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
- O’Brien, Josie. “What Are UCAS Points and What Do They Mean? Your Guide to University Entry.” Performancelearningcoaching, 11 July 2025, myperformancelearning.com/how-do-ucas-points-work-explained/. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
- ---. “UCAS.” UCAS, 20 Dec. 2017, www.ucas.com/applying/you-apply/what-and-where-study/entry-requirements/calculate-your-ucas-tariff-points. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
- Taylor, Nik . “Calculating Ucas Points Based on Predicted Grades - the Uni Guide.” Www.theuniguide.co.uk, 10 Sept. 2025, www.theuniguide.co.uk/advice/ucas-application/how-do-i-calculate-ucas-points-based-on-your-predicted-grades. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
- UK University Search. “UK University Search.” UK University Search, 2024, www.ukuniversitysearch.com/ucas-points-calculator. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
- Scorah, Leah. “How Are Predicted Grades Calculated at a Level?” Save My Exams, 30 Aug. 2025, www.savemyexams.com/learning-hub/exam-guides/predicted-grades-calculation-a-level/. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
- Pearson Education. “Extended Project and Universities | Pearson Qualifications.” Pearson.com, 2026, qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-project-qualification/level-3/student-support/extended-project-and-universities.html. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
- ASDAN. “About Us.” Energise Technology, www.asdan.org.uk/about-us/. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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